Clarifying Misconception about halal Food
Clarifying Misconceptions About Halal Food
We are aware of certain rumours that at times circulate about the halal food industry. As such, we appreciate you taking the time to investigate this matter at the source rather than accept at face value the various sensationalists, misleading statements about halal certification currently circulating through social and traditional media networks. We would like to take this opportunity to categorically reject these statements and would direct you to the information below in order to clarify any concerns primarily about the nature of halal products, the usage of funds, and the implications of halal certification for the USA’s economy at large.
What is Halal?
Every religion has its own characteristics and rules. Many faiths also have their own dietary or consumables restrictions. The word Halal is derived from the Arabic language and means ‘acceptable’ or ‘permissible’, relating to the source of the produce or ingredients, the cleanliness of premises, preparation methods and the final product. Conversely, non-Halal (Haram) means non-permissible or unacceptable. “Halal” is similar to the concept of “kosher” food requirements under Jewish dietary law, and refers to food, drink and other consumables that Muslims consume as part of Islamic dietary requirements. Because many food products may contain a combination of Halal and non-Halal ingredients, some food companies choose to have their products assessed for halal suitability in order for Muslims (locally or importing countries) to be able to clearly identify which products they may consume. This does not affect the quality, nature, or taste of the product. Moreover, the Halal products must meet the relevant standards for food safety, quality, and nutrition.
Consumers should be made aware that statements such as these are sensationalist rumours designed to incite fear amongst American consumers. Such statements are misleading and unequivocally incorrect.
Halal USA has no power to enforce any tax, religious or otherwise, on the citizens of USA under any circumstances. Companies that seek halal certification pay a flat fee that covers the cost of site certifications and product certification and periodic audits as needed. These fees are in line with those that companies pay to have other elements of their business certified and audited each year to help meet the requirements of other dietary needs, such as organic, vegetarian, and kosher, or to ensure compliance from a Halal Quality Management System (HQMS) and food safety (HACCP) point of views. To the best of our knowledge, the fees paid by companies to have their products certified are not carried over to the consumer.
How are the funds from halal certification used?
The service fees paid to Halal USA for halal certification and certifications are used to maintain the normal costs of running a registered business in USA. These include overhead costs such as utilities, rent, inventory and supplies, and employee salaries, as well as income taxes paid to the government. Inspection fees also include auditing services, which are undertaken to maintain quality control of the premises and products and which cover standard expenses such as service, transportation and travel time.
Halal USA is proud to be an American business and in accordance with the American Government’s values statement has always undertaken to respect the values of American society and obey its laws. Halal certification profits DO NOT go towards supporting any terrorist activities or violent politically motivated religious organisations. Nor do we have anything to do with any organisation or group anywhere in the world that incites violence and are not aligned with our values of freedom, egalitarianism, equality of opportunity, and mutual respect and tolerance.
The pure and unaltered teachings of Islam as well as the tradition of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encourage a harmonious and peaceful way of life and forbid injustice or aggression against any living creature, whether animal or human being. Instead, we are taught to have respect for all – regardless of religious beliefs, race, or ethnicity.
The additional income produced by a certified company that gains halal certification and certifications belongs to the company (not Halal USA) and contributes millions of dollars to the American economy every year – far more than anything that is paid for the certification itself. Having products halal certified also allows domestic businesses to expand their reach by giving them the opportunity to export products to international markets, giving these businesses a competitive advantage allowing for even greater benefit to the American economy.
We unequivocally refute the rumours made against halal certification bodies by anti-halal campaigners and invite the public to consider whether the anti-halal campaign is based on real facts or is simply a hate campaign that does not care much for facts at all. The lack of verified facts to support allegations therefore renders the very purpose for this campaign null and void. To understand the real underlying reasons (and hidden agendas) behind such campaigns, one should instead consider the role that anti-Muslim hatred plays in creating this fear and labelling everything that is identifiably linked to the Islamic faith as a conspiracy or threat.
We abide by the laws of this country and are proud to offer a service that allows the American economy to benefit from the multi trillion dollars Halal industry substantially. Any claims to the contrary are false and only aim to disrupt efforts to maintain harmony and peace in the greater American society. It takes very little effort to spread false information on the internet, and much greater effort to verify information and consider the facts before coming to an informed conclusion. We hope you always choose the latter.
